Super Netball 2025: West Coast Fever smash Queensland Firebirds by 17 goals to avenge round two defeat

West Coast Fever avenged an ugly early season loss to Queensland Firebirds in style, thrashing the cellar-dwellers by 17 goals at RAC Arena on Sunday. Just weeks after the Firebirds belted Fever by 13 goals, they turned their fortunes around to claim a strong 82 to 65 victory – their sixth consecutive win. It sets up an exciting top-of-the-table clash against the undefeated NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday night. Star Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard — who didn’t play in their previous clash — was the difference, scoring a near perfect 68 goals 69 attempts. Fever set up the strong victory in a one-sided first half, taking an 11-goal lead into the main break as they played to their potential. Queensland threatened a comeback early in the third term when they capitalised on the super shots to get within six goals. Fever coach Dan Ryan made a significant change in attack for the third term, sending young shooter Olivia Wilkinson to goal attack. The move paid dividends as Wilkinson stood tall with two super shots from five attempts, swinging the momentum and ensuring they won the quarter and continued to build on their lead. At the other end of the court, Fever were able to restrict Firebirds shooter Mary Cholhol (39 goals) who dominated them earlier this year. Goalkeeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney had an incredible four gains and five intercepts, combining with Sunday Aryang and Fran Williams (both three) to register 10 between them — two more than the entire Firebirds team. Fever turned these into scoreboard pressure scoring 12 goals from gains while going at 91 per cent conversion rate from centre passes as they overwhelmed the Queensland defence. Come the final term Fever just piled on the pain of the downtrodden Firebirds, who began to cough up several chances going into attack. Fever were clinical and led by as much as 20 goals at one stage, before the visitors were able to get some late consolation super goals to get some respectability back in the scoreboard. Ryan it was a “great four-quarter performance” from his side when he reflected on the stats sheet. “Some of those numbers are really positive and I think a great little shift from some of the things we’re working on in the training environment this week,” he said. “It was great to get all 10 players contributing to those types out of outcomes so it was really positive in that regard.” Ryan said they never though ahead of the bumper clash against the Swifts next week despite being in control for most of the game against Firebirds. “Always there a focus on here and now and what’s next. And if you do get an opportunity to plan ahead it’s fortunate,” he said. “We’re playing against similar goalshooters with the tall target this week and next. It gives you a little bit of an opportunity to start forward planning in that space. “Rest assured we did not even speak or think about the Swifts before we got past Firebirds, but we’ll move to that pretty quickly. And I thin we’re all really excited for the challenge.”